107: Empty Nest Transition Resources โญ

107: Empty Nest Transition Resources โญ

Hello, my ah-mazing empty nest friend, 

Here we go. Another attempt at college during a pandemic. What an adventure for all of us - whether your child is heading back to campus with face masks, symptom monitoring, physical distancing, and no group hangouts, or if they are home.

No matter the choices that your family has made, motherhood is an adventure. Empty nesting shows up in our lives a little bit differently for each of us, but in the end, we all are doing our best to navigate this thing called life. If you need help discovering your future self, I'm here for you when you are ready to get to work. 

Take deep breaths, my empty nest friend (or future empty nest friend), and do your best to enjoy the ride. 

Coach Christine,

Your Empty Nest Coach

"I thought I would do a quick rundown of resources that I have available to you as you adjust to the empty nest - and for some of you the not-so-empty-nest."

Take a listen or read the full transcript at the bottom of this post.

โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“ More goodies below, too! Scroll down โ‡“, so you don't miss anything! โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“

New Podcast Episode๐ŸŽ™Coach Christine shares resources she has created specifically for mothers who are having trouble adjusting to the idea of the empty nest (not-so-empty-nest, too)! ๐Ÿ’š #EmptyNest #NotSoEmptyNest  #EmptyNestSyndrome 

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FULL TRANSCRIPT: 

Episode 107 of the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast

00:00:00

You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast  with Coach Christine - Episode #107: Empty Nest Transition Resources.  I work with mothers of high school students and beyond, who are in the trenches with sad and possibly, overwhelming thoughts about what their life will look like when their baby heads to college and begins to leave the nest.  My clientsโ€™ big question is what will I do with my time?  Is this you?  Iโ€™ve been there, and I get it.  Empowering you to write the next jaw-dropping, amazing chapter in your life is my passion.  I am energized by leading you in the process of exploration and am thrilled when you unlock the power that lies within you.  This podcast is my gift to you.

[intro] - be sure to use new 2020 intro: podcast creation files folder

Hello, my empty nest friend and CEO of Your Life! 

00:00:45

Tomorrow, our daughter heads off to her senior year of college, in the midst of a year that continues to challenge the resilience of all humans. As promised in my last episode, this episode is going to be a quick one. I thought I would do a quick rundown of resources that I have available to you as you adjust to the empty nest - and for some of you the not-so-empty-nest.

First Iโ€™ll start with the podcast. Many of the episodes and resources I have created are pre-pandemic, so adjust as needed, as you listen. 

00:01:20

In episode 2, I discuss Is the Empty Nest real?, and some ways to combat the sadness and loneliness - remember, you arenโ€™t alone. I created this entire podcast for amazing humans just like you. 

In episodes 3 - 7 - I dive into how much power you are giving away in your life through the thoughts in your mind. This is a deeper series and youโ€™ll find the concept of thought deliveries throughout my podcast episodes. 

I have episodes on specific areas such as when you arenโ€™t a fan of your childโ€™s major (episode 9), how to get rid of guilt (episode 18), now that you have more time together - maybe your partner is driving you crazy? (episode 25), maybe you have no idea what to do with your time ahead - then check out episode 29, or if youโ€™re looking on how to find friends in the empty nest: episode 31.

00:02:14

I also have interviews with experts - one of my favorites for the first semester is my chat with Katy Oliveira in episode 28 where we chat about what mom should expect during the first semester in college

I did a not-so-empty-nest-series when the physical distancing began for our family, and the wrap up of that series you may find particularly useful if your student is staying home for all (or part) of the school year - for whatever reason.

00:02:42

Of course, I have the GPS Support Flock Membership that will quickly fill your empty nest with ideas, thoughts, and activities for you to begin to discover who you are beneath all of the roles youโ€™ve had for the last 18 or so years. Should you be interested in learning more about those, check out my free on-demand training session: Why You Donโ€™t Know What is Next For Your Life.

Iโ€™ve also been hanging out in Pinterest Stories lately, and have tried a few Instagram Reels - you may want to check those out. 

00:03:12

Of course, there is my website where you may search for anything Iโ€™ve discussed - that is  YourEmptyNestCoach.com. Should you be looking for quick tips and thoughts Iโ€™ve shared with others, be sure to check out my media & press page for additional interviews or posts that Iโ€™ve done on other peopleโ€™s websites or podcasts - youโ€™ll find this by clicking on Work With Christine and there youโ€™ll find Media & Press in that sub-menu. 

00:03:37

Yes, fall 2020 is going to look different than fall 2019. Thatโ€™s a given.  If you find yourself, now,  spiraling in thoughts that their school life should look different, that maybe it isnโ€™t fair to them - or to you -  ask yourself, โ€œwhy?โ€ Why do I believe that it should it look different?  Did you get a different life-manual than I did that promises you things like the world you know isnโ€™t going to change drastically? Yes, I am sneaking in a little bit of tough love here. But, I like to do that. Remember that when you live in the should have, you are arguing with reality. Look at what it IS, what is right now in your life, and choose to move forward. If you arenโ€™t dead, my beautiful friend, how about you choose living in the now, rather than arguing with it and living in the should-haves. 

00:04:30

Feel those emotions, and try remembering this: PSPF - Patience for self, Self-Love, Patience for Others, and Fun: Be patient with yourself as you adjust to the next segment of your lifeโ€™s journey, shower yourself with love - especially in your thoughts, have patience for your partner and other household members as they are navigating the change, too. Remember that their emotions donโ€™t have to match yours, and donโ€™t forget to have some fun along the way.  PSPF.

00:05:03

Okay, while youโ€™re getting this on Friday, Iโ€™m off to enjoy the final week at home with my daughter - unless there is a last minute โ€œhey, weโ€™re all going all onlineโ€ announcement - yeah, letโ€™s keep it real - this is 2020.  

I think I already talked longer than I had planned. Thanks for listening, today. I appreciate you more than you know. 

00: 05:21

I was invited to chat with the amazing and wonderful Lauren Kinghorn of Inspiring Mompreneurs. It was great to connect with her, after meeting virtually online probably over a year ago . Take a listen and learn all about my grope calls - I mean group calls - yeah, nothing like getting that wrong in an interview - [giggle] - she has our chat on YouTube as well. Links, as always are in my show notes. 

00:05:58

My resilient friend, you are navigating a journey that no one could have expected a year ago. Your choices are right because they are the choices you have made - live in the now and consciously choose when you are thinking about the future -  always remembering that YOU, my beautiful friend, ARE AMAZING! Have a great day!

[bloopers]

00:06:35

Thanks!  Thank you!  Itโ€™s time to thank our sponsor.  This episode is sponsored by my membership community, The GPS Support Flock; Your Flight to Success in the Empty Nest.  If you are ready to find the GPS of your life, sign up to receive an immediate and free download of my PDF, "How to Find Yourself in the Empty Nest," our GPS Life Principles document.  You will also have the opportunity to learn about our community.  See the link in this episode's show notes or fly on over to my website, YourEmptyNestCoach.com.  Click the GPS Support Flock button.  See you soon! 

[End]

106: Whether Your Child is Going Back to Campus or Not, Feel those Feelings ๐Ÿ’š

106: Whether Your Child is Going Back to Campus or Not, Feel those Feelings ๐Ÿ’š

Hello, my ah-mazing empty nest friend, 

This is your reminder to feel those feelings.

Coach Christine,

Your Empty Nest Coach

"...whether your child (or children) are heading back to campus or staying home - for whatever reason, I encourage you to feel those emotions. Trust that you are strong enough to process through them."

Take a listen or read the full transcript at the bottom of this post.

โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“ More goodies below, too! Scroll down โ‡“, so you don't miss anything! โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“

New podcast episode ๐ŸŽ™Coach Christine shares her thoughts on emotions around back to college (or not) season. ๐Ÿ’š #EmptyNest #NotSoEmptyNest #BackToSchool #Emotions #NewEpisode

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Subscribe To This Podcast

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FULL TRANSCRIPT: 

Episode 106 of the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast

00:00:00

Christine:  You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast  with Coach Christine.  Episode number 106: Whether Your Child is Going Back to Campus or Not, Feel those Feelings, Parents! I work with mothers of high school students and beyond, who are in the trenches with sad and possibly, overwhelming thoughts about what their life will look like when their baby heads to college and begins to leave the nest.  My clientsโ€™ big question is what will I do with my time?  Is this you?  Iโ€™ve been there, and I get it.  Empowering you to write the next jaw-dropping, amazing chapter in your life is my passion.  I am energized by leading you in the process of exploration and am thrilled when you unlock the power that lies within you.  This podcast is my gift to you.

00:00:48

Hello, my empty nest friend and CEO of Your Life! This episode and my next one are going to be on the shorter side. Well, at least that is my plan, as my daughter is gearing up to head back to campus a week from when this airs.

This is my fourth round of her heading back to or heading to college - yes, sheโ€™s heading into her senior year. I know that there is a level of anxiety that seeps into all we do. Even on the best years of on-campus returns, it is there. From all of us - yes, even my husband partakes in it. It manifests in different ways for each of us but it is there. Iโ€™ve seen it peek out in all of us over the last week. 

Iโ€™ve noticed it in me. Iโ€™ve bumped up my presence-work a bit. But before diving into the present, I do my best to name the emotion Iโ€™m feeling  - or at least to recognize how it feels in my body - and then I see if I can identify the thought that is causing it. If you are a regular listener of my podcast, you know the drill from here.  

00:01:50

Then, I work on pulling myself into the present, if the thought and emotion continues, I always find the more present I am; the less power that has on me, until eventually it has no power. That is the beauty of being present: โ€œin the now,โ€  as Eckhart Tolle says. In Coach Christine speak, hmmmโ€ฆ kind of like that, 

It is as if, I wake up and check in with my protector. I ask them what the delivery is, I see it,  notice what it is doing to me (oh, there is a lump in my throat, my stomach feels off), and by noticing it, the power in that thought delivery begins to already subside. 

With that in mind, whether your child (or children) are heading back to campus or staying home - for whatever reason, I encourage you to feel those emotions. Trust that you are strong enough to process through them. Sometimes, by simply naming that it is anxiety, or it is nervousness, resentment, you manage to remove a layer (or sometimes ten layers) of that emotion that has a grasp on you.

00:02:54

Remember, you arenโ€™t your emotions.  You arenโ€™t your feelings. You arenโ€™t even the thoughts that you have. You are an amazing human doing their best to get from one day to the next. Be kind to yourself. Gift yourself with love.

And, yes, whether your child is heading back to campus or not, I invite you to process through those emotions, and then use the extra time you have to spend some time hanging out with them. 

Give them the space to feel their emotions (of course you wouldnโ€™t call it that, but youโ€™ll know what you are doing) - some ideas would be to take a walk with them - destination (or no destination), have a coffee date, maybe play a board game that they loved as a child - itโ€™s always fun to revisit things like this. 

00:03:40

Sometimes, we look back at board books or childrenโ€™s books that were beloved in our house and we see the flaws in them or the things that we loved about them and it is a really fun discussion. So, while you are looking at the supplies they need for school, in the midst of all the doing of what needs to be done - be careful not to ignore what is going on behind all of those doing actions - for all of you.

Again, spend some time focused on your protector. Calm them down so that you may hold space for your family to see what lies behind their protectors. It is a gift that you will give you and your family - even if they are completely unaware of it. 

Iโ€™ll be back in a week with another quick bite episode. Now, my beautiful friend, those family members that live in your house and you donโ€™t have to socially distance from, give them a hug - give them a  couple of extra ones this week  and create some memories.

00:04:37

And never forget that you are amazing. See ya! 

[Bloopers]

Thanks!  Thank you!  Itโ€™s time to thank our sponsor.  This episode is sponsored by my membership community, The GPS Support Flock; Your Flight to Success in the Empty Nest.  If you are ready to find the GPS of your life, sign up to receive an immediate and free download of my PDF, "How to Find Yourself in the Empty Nest," our GPS Life Principles document.  You will also have the opportunity to learn about our community.  See the link in this episode's show notes or fly on over to my website, YourEmptyNestCoach.com.  Click the GPS Support Flock button.  See you soon! 

[End]

Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast, Episode 7. Empty Nest Prep Series 5/5: The Tool that Changes Lives – Putting it all together

Hello, my Empty Nest Friend!
 
The final part in a five part series: Empty Nest Prep. Your Empty Nest Coach, Christine, shares the Self Coaching Model tool that was assembled by Brooke Castillo of The Life Coach School. FAB-U-LOUS!
 

โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“ More goodies below, too! Scroll all the way down โ‡“ so you don’t miss anything! โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“

Want to subscribe to this podcast? Great news – it is free!
> Click here, and then choose your favorite podcast app – be sure to hit subscribe or follow, once you choose your favorite!
Let me know if you have any additional questions – as I am always happy to explain how podcasts work!

This Episode is Brought To You By

๐Ÿ’š Send audio feedback to Coach Christine now: voicemail/text to 920-LIFEWIN (920-543-3946).

What You Will Learn in this Episodeย 

  • I will introduce you to Brooke Castillo’s Self Coaching Model
  • Circumstances don’t control your thoughts
  • Your thoughts are optional

Episode Questions for You To Consider

  • What are your thoughts about the Self Coaching Model and my visualizations to go along with it?ย 
  • What isn’t working in your life right now?

Episode Resources

Full Transcript

You are preparing for the empty nest ahead as your child(ren) prepares, heads off to, and experiences college.

Changes in four years since I first created this page: moved twice as a family, navigated all four years of out of state college for daughter (now graduated), I lost weight, started taking better care of myself, started working full-time while building this business, turned 50-years-old, hubby above is now ex-hubby, got a great new job, cranked out 150+ podcast episodes, attended my first podcasting conference, spoke at the next one, and just bought a manufactured home for me (and my daughter for as long as she needs to be there) to live in, changed my last name, podcast hit 100K downloads, and I’m working on a book!

Empty Nest Success doesn’t always look like over the moon happiness. Sometimes, it looks like accepting what is, processing emotions, and moving forward as peacefully as possible with little drama – and that feels amazing!

Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast, Episode 6. Empty Nest Prep Series 4/5: Taking ACTION in your life

Hello, my Empty Nest Friend!
 
The fourth part in a five part series: Empty Nest Prep. Your Empty Nest Coach, Christine, continues her thought box visualization into ACTIONS/INACTION in your life.
 

โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“ More goodies below, too! Scroll all the way down โ‡“ so you don’t miss anything! โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“

Want to subscribe to this podcast? Great news – it is free!
> Click here, and then choose your favorite podcast app – be sure to hit subscribe or follow, once you choose your favorite!
Let me know if you have any additional questions – as I am always happy to explain how podcasts work!

This Episode is Brought To You By

๐Ÿ’š Send audio feedback to Coach Christine now: voicemail/text to 920-LIFEWIN (920-543-3946).

What You Will Learn in this Episodeย 

  • A visualization for how your feelings impact your actions.
  • To notice the actions you take when you feel particular feelings.ย 
  • To stop and take note of feelings when they occur.ย 

Episode Questions for You To Consider

  • Are you with me, or are you completely lost?
  • Have you noticed anything different about your life since listening to this podcast?

Episode Resources

Full Transcript

You are preparing for the empty nest ahead as your child(ren) prepares, heads off to, and experiences college.

Changes in four years since I first created this page: moved twice as a family, navigated all four years of out of state college for daughter (now graduated), I lost weight, started taking better care of myself, started working full-time while building this business, turned 50-years-old, hubby above is now ex-hubby, got a great new job, cranked out 150+ podcast episodes, attended my first podcasting conference, spoke at the next one, and just bought a manufactured home for me (and my daughter for as long as she needs to be there) to live in, changed my last name, podcast hit 100K downloads, and I’m working on a book!

Empty Nest Success doesn’t always look like over the moon happiness. Sometimes, it looks like accepting what is, processing emotions, and moving forward as peacefully as possible with little drama – and that feels amazing!

Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast, Episode 5: Empty Nest Prep Series 3/5 – Your Feelings

Hello, my Empty Nest Friend!
 
The third part in a five part series: Empty Nest Prep. Your Empty Nest Coach, Christine, shares some news that you may not love- it has to do with your feelings.
 

โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“ More goodies below, too! Scroll all the way down โ‡“ so you don’t miss anything! โ‡“โ‡“โ‡“

Want to subscribe to this podcast? Great news – it is free!
> Click here, and then choose your favorite podcast app – be sure to hit subscribe or follow, once you choose your favorite!
Let me know if you have any additional questions – as I am always happy to explain how podcasts work!

This Episode is Brought To You By

๐Ÿ’š Send audio feedback to Coach Christine now: voicemail/text to 920-LIFEWIN (920-543-3946).

Episode Questions for You To Consider

  • Do you want to be controlled by your thoughts? ย 
  • Find something that happened today, and see if had you chosen a different thought box, how would you have felt different? ย 

Episode Resources

Full Transcript

You are preparing for the empty nest ahead as your child(ren) prepares, heads off to, and experiences college.

Changes in four years since I first created this page: moved twice as a family, navigated all four years of out of state college for daughter (now graduated), I lost weight, started taking better care of myself, started working full-time while building this business, turned 50-years-old, hubby above is now ex-hubby, got a great new job, cranked out 150+ podcast episodes, attended my first podcasting conference, spoke at the next one, and just bought a manufactured home for me (and my daughter for as long as she needs to be there) to live in, changed my last name, podcast hit 100K downloads, and I’m working on a book!

Empty Nest Success doesn’t always look like over the moon happiness. Sometimes, it looks like accepting what is, processing emotions, and moving forward as peacefully as possible with little drama – and that feels amazing!